Ludington Public Library

The Ludington Public Library is one of the two branches of the Mason County District Library administrative system. This library, as the main branch, is located in downtown Ludington, in Mason County in the Lower Peninsula of Michigan. The library started in 1872. The Pere Marquette Literary Club helped in the formation of a permanent city library. They took financial support from Andrew Carnegie to construct the library building, which opened in 1906. The building has since had major expansions and is still operational. The library has metal allegorical sculptures at various parts of its surrounding property. History The Ludington Public Library had its beginnings 1872. In 1881, the building and all library contents were destroyed in a major city fire. The Pere Marquette Literary Club worked to obtain a grant from the Carnegie Institution for construction of the new Ludington library. In 1906, the Ludington Carnegie library building was declared as the library that will "stand a thousand years." On March 1, 1906, with 3,800 books in its collection, the library made its debut. In 2011, after firing a staff member for releasing a "tell all" about the library and its "unsavory regulars", the library was sued in a federal court for free speech violations. Sculptures The "Flights of Learning" sculpture is at the front of the Ludington Public Library. The "Double the Fun" sculpture was installed in 2014. Modeled by sculptor W. Stanley Proctor, it pays tribute to a high school English teacher Sallie Peterson Ferguson. It shows her sitting on a bench reading to a young boy and girl, representing her passion for reading. Gallery References Further reading History of Manistee, Mason and Oceana Counties, Michigan (Paperback). H.R. Page & Company. 1976 [1882]. p. 33. ISBN 9780598899057. OCLC 645888026. Steve Begnoche (March 4, 2006). "Library celebrates 100 years". Ludington Daily News. Ludington, Michigan. p. 1. Steve Begnoche (March 4, 2006). "Library plans expansion". Ludington Daily News. Ludington, Michigan. p. A8. Braciszeski, Kevin (October 26, 2010). "Just Imagine: $500,000 gift". Ludington Daily News. Ludington, Michigan. p. A1. Braciszeski, Kevin (August 16, 2014). "'Double the fun' adds to sculpture trail". Ludington Daily News. Ludington, Michigan: Shoreline Media Group. James L. Cabot (Columnist), three-part series on the Ludington Public Library: "Public library, one of earliest institutions". Ludington Daily News. November 9, 1991. "New library rises from ashes of 1881 fire". Ludington Daily News. November 16, 1991. "Ludington library continues its growth". Ludington Daily News. November 23, 1991. Hinson, Mark (March 26, 2006). "Sculpturing, a place in history". Tallahassee Democrat. Tallahassee, Florida. "Sculpture installed in front of library - Dedication June 29". Ludington Daily News. June 21, 2012. p. 1. "Minutes of the City Council". The Ludington Chronicle. February 8, 1905. "Open to the public Thursday, March 1st". The Ludington Chronicle. February 28, 1906. "The new Carnegie library". The Ludington Chronicle. September 26, 1903. p. 1. "Carnegie Library site ordered purchased". The Ludington Chronicle. September 7, 1904. p. 1. "The Carnegie library site". The Ludington Chronicle. September 23, 1903. pp. 1, 4. Book 12, Common Council of the City of Ludington, September 7, 1904 Ludington Record-Appeal, 2–9–1905, Volume XXXVIII, No. 26 "Dedicated: Mason County Sculpture Trail launched with two works". Ludington Daily News. June 30, 2012. "History of an old Landmark /Story of the Carnegie Library site and of the Old Building standing thereon". The Ludington Chronicle. March 15, 1905. p. 1. External links Mason County District Library Ludington Public Library